DESCRIPTION
While jellyfish are a natural feature of the Mediterranean Sea, “jelly blooms” were rare episodes until the last eight years, when massive swarms of gelatinous organisms became a frequent sight in coastal waters. Such events represent a nuisance for swimmers, and in the case of certain species may become a real health hazard. They are considered a pest by fishermen, as they clog nets, keep away fish and consume fish larvae. In recent years, a number of industrial marine cooling systems had to be put temporarily out of order as jellies clogged the underwater pipes. The resulting socio-economic impacts – both direct (tourism) and indirect (coastal development, fisheries) – are thus tangible. From an ecosystem perspective, the apparent increase and synchrony of jellyfish outbreaks in both western and eastern Mediterranean basins are sending warning signals of a potential phase shift from a fish to a “gelatinous sea". Although overfishing and climate warming are amongst the most probable drivers, the specific causes and mechanisms are not well identified, and the lack of reference data makes any further investigation difficult.
The CIESM Jelly Watch Programme was set up to gather for the first time baseline data on the frequency and extent of jellyfish outbreaks across the Mediterranean Sea. After a pilot test phase involving a few countries, a common, standardized protocol will be adopted for both coastal and open sea sightings of jellyfish swarms in the whole Basin, enabling an unbiased assessment of the geographic and temporal scale of these mass events. Coastal observatios will be eventually coupled with offshore observations taken aboard vessels of opportunity (ferries, etc) along selected Mediterranean routes (see CIESM Transmed Program).
PHASE I - JELLYWATCH PILOT PHASE, OPPORTUNISTIC OBSERVATIONS
In summer 2008, JellyWatch was initiated by the launch of a pilot, citizen-based study in Italian waters: a poster was produced in Italian with joint support of CoNISMa and MARE VIVO, to draw the attention of coastal users (fishermen, divers, tourists) but also ferry passengers, asking for their report of sightings of jellyfish swarms. The poster present true-to-life drawings that illustrate the most common species of jellyfish found in the Mediterranean, along with a list of basic questions (formulated for the non-specialist observer) on the location, type and extension of the observed swarms.
The poster has been successfully tested : records were sent by email to key scientists who acted as focal points in different regions. The media were heavily involved in the campaign, from televisions, newspapers and magazines including a cover in Time. The massive presence of jellyfish during 2009 enhanced the value of the initiative, and hundreds of records, documented by photographs, have been received. Medusa blooms have been documented as no other jellyfish outbreak has ever been documented worldwide.
PHASE II – EXTENDING JELLYWATCH ACROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ACROSS DISCIPLINES (See detailed diagram)
The extension to the whole Mediterranean and the organization of the data are now planned. A special technical meeting organised during the 39th CIESM International Congress in Venice (10-14 May 2010) assembled interested scientists from a variety of concerned countries. The CIESM Jellywatch Phase II, currently implemented in Italy and Israel, will be soon extended to Tunisia and France. The poster has been translated in different languages to maximise public awareness of the issue and stimulate public participation in this programme.
Whenever a medusa outbreak is spotted, the Jellywatch observer will answer very simple questions: What jellyfish are out there? How many of them? Where are they?
After accurate screening and validation of the photographic records, data will be centralized and integrated in the CIESM Metabase so as to better predict and manage future events.
National JellyWatch Focal Points:
Italy - Dr Ferdinando Boero, Univ. del Salento, Lecce;
Israel - Dr Bella Galil, IOLR, Haifa;
France – Dr Delphine Thibault-Botha, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille;
Greece - Dr Anastasia Miliou - Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, Samos
Turkey - Dr Cemal Turan, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey
Download CIESM Jellywatch poster in Croatian, English, Greek, French, Turkish.
|
The CIESM Jellywatch Poster spread during the Pilot Phase of the program
Aurelia aurita
Fishermen facing a jellyfish bloom
|
